Three Arrested in Marion County Home Burglary After Attempting to Sell Stolen Items on Facebook

MARION COUNTY, Fla. — Three suspects have been apprehended by Marion County deputies for their involvement in a home burglary where expensive items were stolen and subsequently listed for sale on Facebook.

The incident took place on Monday when deputies responded to a call regarding a home burglary and stolen property on 129th Ave. in Silver Springs. The stolen items included two gaming consoles and a safe containing prescribed cannabis products. The total value of the stolen property was estimated to be over $2,500.

During the investigation, authorities reviewed footage from a neighbor’s security camera, which captured a blue, four-door passenger car with front-end damage passing by the victim’s residence. Two individuals, identified as black men, were seen running from the car towards the targeted home. The suspects then returned to the car, carrying what appeared to be the stolen items, before leaving the scene.

While processing the crime scene, the victim alerted the sheriff’s office to two Facebook Marketplace ads advertising the stolen gaming consoles. The ads featured photographs and videos of the items, showcasing distinctive marks described by the victim. Further investigation revealed that the ads were posted by a Facebook profile belonging to 20-year-old Thamydious McClain.

Taking advantage of the situation, Marion County detectives posed as potential buyers and arranged a meeting with McClain to purchase the stolen property for cash. The suspect described the car he would be in as a blue Hyundai Elantra and mentioned that his cousin, 18-year-old J’Von Hatten-Baker, would accompany him.

When deputies arrived at the designated location, they encountered a vehicle matching the exact description provided by McClain. The car, which displayed front-end damage consistent with the security footage, was registered to 19-year-old Dalton Goodman. During the encounter, deputies discovered a silver handgun in Goodman’s possession, despite him being underage and ineligible to carry a firearm legally.

Once the stolen items were positively identified, all three suspects were detained and transported to the sheriff’s office for further questioning. In subsequent interviews, Hatten-Baker and McClain confessed to entering the victim’s home and stealing the items, while Goodman admitted to driving them to and from the location. Both Hatten-Baker and McClain attempted to sell the stolen items at a pawn shop but declined the offered payment due to its low value.

The three suspects, Thamydious McClain, J’Von Hatten-Baker, and Dalton Goodman, were arrested and charged with grand theft and dealing in stolen property, both classified as felonies. Hatten-Baker and McClain face additional charges of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling. Goodman, on the other hand, is also charged with possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony and illegally carrying a concealed firearm, due to the handgun found in his possession.

As of now, Hatten-Baker and McClain remain in custody at the Marion County Jail on a combined bond of $5,500, while Goodman is held on a $12,500 bond.

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